Record Winter Tourism Numbers Reported in Bansko
Bansko, Bulgaria's premier mountain resort, experienced a surge in winter tourism, with more than 190,000 visitors flocking to its slopes during the season
The construction of new ski tracks on the Vitosha Mountain, situated next to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, is severe offense against the law.
This has been stated Tuesday by representatives of 30 environmentalist organization at a press conference in Sofia.
According to the organizational plan of the "Vitosha" Nature Park, approved by the Council of Ministers after serious dispute, the currents ski tracks, situated at 19 hectares, can be only repaired and improved, but construction of news ones is not allowed.
However, according to the detailed organizational plan of the park, another 914 hectares of new facilities are foreseen. They will be situated entirely at an area of the state forest fund, the environmentalists alert.
In their words, there are serious violation, and give as an example that in order to build an artificial snow system, a micro dam lake should be constructed.
In addition, the environmentalists say that before the project has begone more than 400 moraines have been removed by the project investor "Vitoshki Ski" (Vitosha Ski).
The company only had permission to remove 19 moraines in order to ease skiers, and it was not allowed to use heavy equipment an explosives. The environmentalists showed pictures of exactly that kind of equipment.
They also claim that with the removal of the 400 moraines, the construction of a new ski track has began under the Malak Rezen pick.
The decision of the Sofia Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Waters has already been appealed in court. The least reason is that the expertises must be signed by biologist with Master's degree, and in this case they are signed by foresters.
"We are facing the danger Vitosha to become like Slanchev Bryag (Sunny Beach)", the environmentalists say.
In their words, "Vitoshki Ski", 90% of which is owned by and offshore company, and Ulen AD, which manages the ski tracks in the ski resort Bansko, are under one hood.
Erosion, caused by inappropriate terrain leveling, has already occurred in Bansko, and on Vitosha the companies are working in exactly the same way as in Bansko. The possibility that the problem will occur on Vitosha is very high, the environmentalists say.
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